So, while things remain at a very volatile stalemate in Orange Walk, police are moving forward. They say they have a new proactive strategy to contain any future unrest – and we’ll let the Commissioner explain that later on in the newscast. But before moving unto the future, what about the past? Was the use of deadly force justified yesterday in Orange Walk. The police today defended their decision. Officer in charge of Orange Walk, Superintendent Joseph Myvett said he had 23 police officers stationed at BSI and at a few minutes to four, they saw a pickup truck blow through the barricade.
Supt. Joseph Myvett, OIC – Corozal Police
“At around 3:40 pm yesterday afternoon we observed a group of people removing one of the barricades that was placed by BSI for the protection of its property. As a result some officers, a total of six officers were deployed to that area in order to secure that area. In so doing, one of the barricades was already removed and a green pickup sped through, almost knocking down the officers. They had to run out of the road in order to save their own lives. The vehicle then headed straight for the core sampler machine where another group of officers had to detain these people in order to prevent damage.
At 3:55 pm yesterday, a checkpoint that was at the BSI junction with the
Northern Highway, was also rammed by a white cane truck, in the truck damaging the police vehicle by pushing it out of the way, heading straight for the BSI compound. In the process, two of our officers were hurt and they made an effort to retreat to where we were close to the base side gate and were able to reach there after receiving several injuries. This was followed by at least a hundred or so people on foot moving to that area.
They moved directly to where we were and immediately started stoning stones, bottles, and a couple of them were also seen armed with machetes. As a result of this, a couple of rubber bullets were fired into the crowd in order for them to desist from stoning the police. However they couldn’t advancing towards us which led us to this point where we had to use several tear gas in order to try and push back the crowd.
During this process, a heavy duty front end loader that is owned by BSI was being used to replace back the barricade that was removed. In the process, the protestors commandeered and took away the vehicle from its driver and started pushing the barricades in order for people to proceed on to the BSI compound proper. We stayed there and held them off for a while with tear gas and several
rounds were fired.”
Allan Whylie, Assistant Commissioner of Police
“Because of the precarious situation they were in, they utilized the tear gas they had. That did not stop the truck nor the persons who were assaulting them and they resorted to the use of firearms. They fired several warning shots in the general direction of that vehicle.”
Gerald Westby, Commissioner of Police
“And who am I to judge the police action out there. The police were fearful of their lives and they made decisions and that again will have to be played out after the investigation. But quite naturally as the Commissioner of Police, the buck stops with me and I am prepared to stand up for my policemen or for any wrong that may have occurred.”
Later on in the press conference, Police Commissioner Gerald Westby admitted that the police were at a disadvantage because they concentrated their crowd suppression forces south of the Tower Hill Bridge and not at the factory. And later on in this newscast, Westby will discuss what the police have planned for the next time, if there is a next time.
